Operating mechanism for pressing machines



Nov. 4, 1941, s. A. BRAUN' 2,251,431

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 27. 1935 WI TN E55. IN V EN TUR- wwd 0b .Blwuwma mm awu Q BY 'A;TORNEY press to open the other press.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- OPERATING MECHANISM FOR. PRESSING vrmornurzs Gaius 1!. Braun, Chicago, IlL, assignor to The Inc., a corporation of New Prosperity Comp York ' Application November 27, 1935, Serial No. 51,785 Renewed April 29, 1938 18 Claims.

This invention relates-to improvements inoperating and control mechanism for garment,

laundry or ironing, and other presses, more particularly textile ironing presses. The invention has particular applicability for ironing presses used in so-called tandem relation where one op-' erator handles two or more presses, and this'in- 'vention renders such press or presses safe in their operation.'

In garment or ironing presses, such as are used in laundries, it is often desirable, for the sake of economy and speed, that two presses be located close together and operated by one person. The

up or open position which, and when repeated continuously duringa normal working day, con' sumes considerable time, and in addition tires or fatigues the" operator.

By the use of my'invention, the operator of the two machines or presses simply moves from one machine to the other without manually actuating any control lever whatever and is thereby relieved of much hand manipulation, thus producing considerably more work with much less effort. Although the invention has its greatest benefits in connection with one operator using two presses, it is understood that benefits are derived when a single press is provided with the controlof this invention.

Such ease of operation is accomplished by providing a photocell or light-sensitive element, sometimes called the electric eye, that is, photo electric control, including one or two beams of light arranged between the two presses and directed upon the electric eye and preferably at a' height convenient to the operator. In passing from one machine to the other, an operator permits one hand if one light beam is provided, or both hands if there' are two beams of light, to

interrupt the beam or beams of light and thereby cast a shadow on said electric eye.

For the sake of safety where a single light beam is utilized, this beam is preferably located far enough away from the pressor in a position so that the operator cannot endanger herself by reaching between the pressing jaws when obstructing or intercepting the light beam. Suitable mechanism is provided whereby any interruption of the beam or' beamsof light into the l'i .control for the usually moist when brought to a photo electricr cell or electric eye will cause a press to open or close, or where two presses are provided in tandem will cause one press head to open, and the other to close. Thus it will be understood that an operator working on tandem presses has only to move-from one press or machine to the other in such a manner as to interrupt the beam or beams .of light directed .into

the electric eye to efiectthe closing of one press and the opening of the other press.

An important object'of the invention,-there-" fore, is to control the opening and closing of one or more presses, with safety to the operator, by means of a mechanism. utilizing'an electric eye or light-sensitive device.

Another object of the invention is to construct a'new and novel control mechanism for presses which are adapted to be operated in tandem.

A still further object is to devise a two-hand control for a garment or laundry press which utilizes a photo-electric cell.

'Another object is to devise a single two-hand operation of two presses in tandem relation.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description. To describe my invention so that others versed in the art to which it pertains can make and use the same, I have illustrated an embodiment or ex-' ample of the invention on the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in whichf Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two ironing presses arranged adjacent each other and equipped with one form of safety control embodying my invention. The electric eye or photocell for controlling the two pressesis shown car-- med upon a standard located between the two presses.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the motor means for actuatingthe presses and the control parts therefor. 7

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

Apparel or laundry to be ironed or pressed is press and it is the drying out of the moisture by heat and pressure which gives the smooth finished eifect or sheen to an ironed fabric. The pressing opera.- tion therefore includes the steps of laying the 'work on the lower jaw or buck,'closing the press,

holding the press closed for a period to dry or cure the garment or fabric, then openingthe ,.press and removing the ironed work. The press,

therefore, is operated, intermittently in that the press is closed and-then is held closed for an appreciable period before it is opened for re:- moval of the garment or fabric. This intermittent operation necessitates two operations of the control and motor means in completing one cycle of operation.

In Figure 1 a collar and cuff ironing press I is shown at the left, and a bosom press 2 is shown at the right for illustrative purposes, and any two presses are contemplated. A standard 3 is shown between the said two presses upon which the electric eye mechanism is mounted, as will appear more fully hereinafter. Each press is provided with the usual lower .jaw or padded buck 4 and an upper jar or movable head 5, with a polished ironing surface, which is pivotally mounted at 6. Suitable mechanism, such as a motor means and operating or leverage connections therefrom to each movable head, is provided usually in the frame of each press to move each head 5 up and down. In one form of ironing press, the motor means uses air under pressure as the motive fluid or power.

In the illustrated embodiment, each motor has a control means for applying motive fluid or power to the motor to operate the same and close the press, for holding the press closed, and for opening the press. There are many ways and means known to the art for operating a motor means for a laundry press, and the invention herein is applicable to any of the known means. Also any suitable control means for controlling the flow of motive fluid is contemplated.

In Figure 2, mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor means is shown and will now be described. The motor means has an air cylinder 1 for operating the left-hand or collar and cuff press, and another motor means which has an air cylinder 8 for operating the righthand or bosom press. Each motor means or cylinder is provided with an air pipe 9 entering the upper end of same and another pipe l entering the lower end thereof. The pipes 9 and I0 near each cylinder connect with the control means H for its respective motor means, the control means illustrated being four-way valves which have the air supply pipe l2 connected to them. Each four-way valve II also is provided with an exhaust. pipe l3 through which air from one end of the cylinder is exhausted when air pressure is admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder.

The control means or valves II are operated by intermittently actuated means which, in the tandem operation illustrated, operates both control means. The valves H are operated in unison by being connected to a reciprocating rod l4,

' which rod is in turn connected to one free end of a lever l which is oscillated upon a pivot i6 carried by a rigid frame I1. The parts are so arranged that when the levers of valves are in a position to the left as shown, air pressure will pass from pipe l2 through valve .4! at the left, pipe 9, and into the upper end of cylinder 1; and also through valve H at the right, pipe l0, and into the lower end of cylinder 8. With the valves in this position, the head 5 on the press I is lowered, or the press is closed, and the head 5 on the press 2 is raised, or this press is opened. When the levers of valves I l are in a position to the right, i. e.,. reverse from the position shown in the drawing, air pressure will then pass from pipe l2 through valve II at the left, pipe l0 into the lower end of the cylinder 1. to raise the head 5 or open the press I; and also through the valve I i at the right, pipe 9 into-the upper end of cylinder 8, thus lowering the head 5 or closing the press 2. Thus it will be understood that each time the rod l4 reciprocates or the lever l5 oscillates from one side to the other, one press closes and the other opens, i. e., one head 5 goes down and the other goes up.

Means is provided for intermittently actuating the control means or valves II by swinging or oscillating the lever l5 from one side to the other when a light beam or beams to an electric eye I8 is interrupted or a shadow falls on the electric eye. Each time a shadow is caused to fall on the electric eye i8, a circuit of which it is a part and other mechanism within the box IE, will operate in accordance with principles known in the photoelectric art to close a switch or relay, thereby causing an electric current to flow from a battery 20, or other source of electric potential, through a wire 2 l ,the switch or relay within box l9, wire 22, coil or solenoid 23 and through wire 24 back to the battery or source of electric potential 20.

When the coil 23 is energized as described above, it will pull a core 25 into the coil 23 and since the solenoid plunger or core is rigid with a rod 26, the slotted end thereof will rotate or oscillate the end of a pivoted arm 21 to the right and hence to a position to the right of that seen in Figure 2. As the arm 21 moves to the right, the weighted pawl 28 engages one of the four teeth 29, which are carried by or connected with a gear 30, to rotate the latter one-quarter of a turn. Gear 30 is in mesh with a smaller gear 3!, the gear ratios being selected so that gear 3| will revolve a half turn. The small gear 3i carries an arm 32 which has its outer end pivotally connected to one end of a link 33, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one free end of the lever l5 mounted on the frame pivot l6. When the coil 23 is deenergized, the core 25 with arm 21 is returned to its normal position, as

shown in Figure 2, by a coiled spring 34 and the pawl 28 rides over the teeth 29 without rotating the gear 30.

It will be noted, therefore, that each time the light beam or beams to the photocell or electric eye iii are intercepted, the rod I4 reciprocates to a the right or left and actuates the control means or valves Ii. Two such operations of the intermittently actuated meansjare necessary to close and open one press and to open and close the other press when the presses are being used in tandem.

At times it may be desirous to use only one press, in which case either press may be shut off from operating as described above. Hence an air valve 28' is provided in the air supply pipe l2 extending to each press, so that if it is desired to use only the press I on the left, valve 28' controlling the air passing to cylinder 8 is closed, and if it is desired to use only press 2 on the right, then air valve 28 controlling the air passing to cylinder 1 is closed. It will be noted that the mechanism shown in Figure 2, including coil 23, frame l1, gears 30 and 3|, lever l5 and valves l I, is preferably enclosed in a casing 29 as shown in Figure 1.

Electric eye circuits for controlling a solenoid 23 are known to that art and hence are not illustrated or particularly described herein. electric eye or light-sensitive device is contemplated for controlling energization of the solenoid 23 when the light beam or beams to the electric eye I3 is interrupted, and it is immaterial what sort of known circuit is used with the electric eye. It is understood also that where two beams of light are usedfor a two-hand control, the

electric eye and/or its circuit is adjusted so that Any' the light intensity of onebeam' of light is too great to cause operation of the press or presses, and hence both beams of light must be intercepted to operate the press or presses.

Provision is made to raise both heads or open both presses at the close of the working day by providing a valve 35 in a by-pass pipe 36 extending from the supply pipe l2 to the lower end of each cylinder 1 and 8. Other means may be provided to leave both presses in open position when the day's work is finished.

Thus it is clear that each time a shadow is caused to fall on the electric eye l8 or the light beam thereto is interrupted, the coil 23 will be energized, the gear 3| will be given a one-half revolution, the lever l5 will be moved from one of its two positions to the other and one press head 5 will be lifted while the other press head 5 Of course, in a great many presses the air pres sure is only employed to force the head down with extreme force and the head is brought to a raised or open press position by suitable springs. In such case, the shadow cast into the electric eye would simply release the head which is being held down in closed position and the air pressure would be admitted to the motor means of the other press to force its head down. In some instances, if preferred, the same or similar mechanism can be used to operate one ress.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in an operating mechanism for pressing machines. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. Hence, it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative of preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form by explaining the construction, operation and advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor means of a press having two inter-- mittent steps to complete a cycle of operation comprising control means for applying Power to the motor to close the press, for holding the press closed and for opening the press, intermittently actuated means connected with the control 'means and having two positions in one of which the control means is operated to close the press and in the other position the control means is operated to open the press, a light-sensitive device and circuit controlling operation of the intermittently actuated means, and a light source directing a light beam upon the light-sensitive device, interruption'of whichbeam operates the the press closed and for opening the press; intermittently actuated means connected with the control ineans and having two positions in one of which the control means is operatedtoclose the press and in the other position the control means is operated to open the press; means connected with .the intermittently actuated means to operate the latter including asolenoid, a lightsensitive device and circuit controlling energize.- tion of the solenoid, and a light source directing a beam upon the light-sensitive device, interruption of which beam operates the solenoid to operate the intermittently actuated means from one position to the other position each time the beam is interrupted.

3. A mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor means of a press having two intermittent steps to complete a cycle of operation comprising control means for applying power to the motor to close the press, for holdingthe press .closed and for opening the press; intermittent oscillating means including a ratchet wheel, a pawl cooperating therewith, means to retum the pawl to its initial position, and a lever connected with the ratchet wheel and the control means so that in one position the control means is oper-' ated to close the press and in the other position the control means is operated to open the press, said lever being rotated through half a revolution for each operation of the pawl and ratchet wheel; and means connected with the pawl to reciprocate the same including a solenoid having an armature connected with the pawl, a light-sensitive device and circuit controlling energization of the solenoid,- and a light source directing a.

beam upon the light-sensitive device, interruption of which beam actuates the armature oi. the solenoid to reciprocate the intermittent oscillating means from one position to the other position each time the beam is interrupted.

4. A garment or laundry press comprising cooperating pressing jaws between which the work is pressed; motor means connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press; control means for the motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having .a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press; and means connected with the control means to alternately move the same to closed press position and open press position including a solenoid, a light-sensitive device and circuit controlling energization of the solenoid, and a light source directing a beam upon the light-' sensitive device interruption of which beam ac-, tuates the solenoid to operate the press to open or closed position.

5. A garment or laundry press comprising cooperating pressing jaws between which the work is pressed, fluid motor means connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, valve means for the motor'means adapted tobe connected with a source of fluid power and having a position where the fluid power is applied tothe motor means to close the press and a position where fluid power is applied to open the press,

intermittently actuated means from one position to the other position each time the beam is intercepted.

2. A mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor means of a laundry press having two intermittent steps to complete a cycle of operation comprising control means for applying power to the motor to close the press, for holding means connected with the valve means to-alternately move the same to its position where power is applied to close the press and where power is.

applied to open the press includinga solenoid, a light-sensitivedevice and circuit controlling en ergization of the solenoid, and a light source directing a'beam upon the light-sensitive. device interruption of which beam actuates the solenoid to operate the press to open or closed position.

6. A garment or laundry press comprising cooperating pressing jaws between which the work is pressed, motor means connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, control means for the motormeans adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press, means connected with the control means to alternately move the same to closed press position and open pressposition including a solenoid, a light-sensitive device and a circuit controlling energization of the solenoid, and a pair of light beams directed upon the light-sensitive device so that interruption of both beams by the two hands of the operator is necessary to actuate the solenoid and operate the press to opzn or closed position.

7. A pair of garment or laundry presses comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means a pair of light beams directed upon the lightsensitive device so that interruption of both beams by the operator using two hands is necessary to actuate the solenoid to operate the presses to open and closed positions.

10. A pair of garment or laundry presses located with an end of one press adjacent an end of the other and with a space therebetween comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close th press, control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close its respective press and a position for opening that same press, and means connnected with both control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and open press position and to alternately move the other control meansto open press position and closed .press position including a single pair of spaced operator actuated means requiring the two hands of the operator to actuate the motor control means whereby one press is opened and the other closed.

8. A pair of garment or laundry presses comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press, means connected with both control means to move one control means to closed press position and the other control means to open subsequently to move the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position including a light-sensitive device, a circuit controlled by the light-sensitive device and actuating the next aforesaid means,

and a pair of light beams directed upon the lightsensitive device so that interruption of both beams by the operator using two hands is necessary to energize the circuit to operate the presses.

9. A pair of garment or laundry presses comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means a for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close its respective press and a position for opening that same press, means connected with both control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and open press position and to alternately move the other control means to open press position and closed press position including a solenoid, a light-sensitive device, a cui: controlling energization of the solenoid, and

press position and cirthe press, control means for each source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press, means connected with both control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and the other control means to open press position and subsequently the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position including a light-sensitive device and a circuit controlling operation of the next aforesaid means, and at least one light beam located in the space between the presses and being directed upon the lightsensitive device so that interruption of the beam energizes the circuit to operate one press to open or closed position and the other press to closed or open position.

11. A pair of garment or laundry presses located angularly with respect to each other and with a corner of one press adjacent a corner of the other press, thereby forming a space therebetween, comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, control press position and the other control means to open press position and subsequently the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position including a light-sensitive device and a circuit controlling operation of the next aforesaid means, and at least one light beam located in the space between the angularly disposed presses and being directed upon the light-sensitive device so that interruption of the beam energizes the circuit to operate one press to open or closed position and the other press to closed or open position.

12. A pair of garment or laundry presses located with an end of one press adjacent an end of the other and with a space therebetween comprising cooperating pressing jaws ior each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing Jaw to open and close'the press, control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a .position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press, means connected with both control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and the other control means to open press position and subsequently to move the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position, photocell mechanism controlling the operation of the next aforesaid means including a standard located in the space between the two presses, a light-sensitive device and a circuit therefor carried by the standard, a source of light upon the standard directing at least one light beam upon the lightsensitive device so that interruption of the beam energizes the circuit to operate one press to open or closed position and the other press to closed or open position.

13. A pair of garment or laundry presses located with an end of one press adjacent an-end of the other and with a space therebetween comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press, motor control means for each motor means adapted to be connected witha source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close its respective press and a position for opening that same press, means connected with both motor control means to alternately move one control means 'to closed press position and open press position and to alternately move the other control means to open press position and closed press position, a standard in the space between the two presses, and a single pair of spaced operator control means for both presses carried by the standard and requiring the two hands of the operator to actuate the motor control means. whereby one press is opened and the other'closed.

14. A pair 01 garment or laundry presses located with an end of one press adjacent an end of the other and with a space therebetween comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed'; motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and closethe press; control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the pressand a position for opening the press; means connected with both' control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and the other control means to open press position and subsequently the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position; and photocell mechanism controlling the operation of the next aforesaid means including a standard located in the space between the two presses,

a light-sensitive device, a circuit for the lightsensitive device, and a source of light carried by the standard and providing two light beams for controlling both presses and being directed upon the light-sensitive device so that the two hands of the operator are required to interrupt the beams to energize the circuit i'or the light-sensitive device whereby one press is opened or closed and the other press is closed or opened.

15. A pair of garment or laundry presses located with an end of one press adjacent an end of the other and with a space therebetween comprising cooperating pressing jaws for each press between which the work is pressed; motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press: control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor means to close the press and a position for opening the press;

means connected with both control meansto al-- ternately move one control means to closed press position and the other control means to open press position and subsequently the first control means to open press position and the other control means to closed press position; and. photocell mechanism controlling the operation of the next aforesaid means including a standard lo catcd in the space between the two presses and extending well above the presses, a light-sensitive devicelocated at the top of the standard, a circuit for the light-sensitive device, and a source 01 light providing two -light beams emanating from substantially the same horizontal position and carried by the standard below the light-sensitive device and within easy reach 01' the operator, the light beams being directed upon the light-sensitive device so that interruption of both beams of light by the two hands of the operator energizes the circuit to operate one press to open or closed position and the other press to closed or open position.

16. A photocell control mechanism for the motor means of a garment or laundry press comprising a standard adapted to be located adjacent to and extend well above the press, a L ght-sensitive device located at the top of the standard, a circuit for the light-sensitive device, a source of light providing two spaced light beams emanating from substantially the same horizontal position and carried by the standard below the light-sensitive device and within easy reach of the operator, the light beams being directed upon the light-sensitive device so that-interruption of both beams by the two hands of the operator energizes the circuit to operate the press alternately to closed or open position.

17. A garment or laundry press comprising cooperating pressing jaws between which the'work is pressed, motor means connected with a pressing jaw to open and close the press. control ineans for th motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor,-

means to close the press and a position for opening the press, means connected with the control means to alternatelymove the controlmeans to 'closed press position and to open press position,

photocell mechanism controlling the operation 01" the next aforesaid means including a light-sensitive device located remotely from the press and operator, a circuit for the light sensitive device. a source of light providing two spaced light beams adjacent the press within easy reach of the operator, the light beams being directed upon the light-sensitive device so that th operator is required to use two hands to interrupt both beams,

which energizes the circuit to 'open'or close the press. 1

18. A pair of garment or laundry presses comprising cooperating pressing jaws ior each press between which the work is pressed, motor means for each press connected with a pressing jaw to openand close the press, control means for each motor means adapted to be connected with a source of power and having a position where power is applied to the motor meansto close its respective press and a positionfor opening that same press, and means connected with both control means to alternately move one control means to closed press position and open press position and to alternately move .the other control means to open press position'andclosed press position including a single operator actuated'means serving both presses and located therebetween to actuate both of the motor control means whereby the operator may .actuate the operator actuated means as she passes from one press to the other to open one press and close the other.

-' GAIUS A. BRAUN. 

